Pallet container



y 1956 c. E. JOHANSSON 3,

PALLET CONTAINER Filed Sept. 10, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CARL E. JOHANSSON ATTORNEYS July 5, 1966 c. E JOHANSSON PALLET CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1963 INVENTOR. CARL E. JOHANSSON ATTORNEYS Filed Sept. 10, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CARL E. JOHANSSON ATTORNEYS July 5, 1966 c. E. JOHANSSON PALLET CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 10 1963 INVENTOR. CARL E. JOHANSSON ATTO RNEYS United States Patent 3,259,309 PALLET CGNTARNER Carl E. Johansson, South Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Youngstown Steel Door Company, Cleveland, ()hio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 307,858 11 Claims. (Cl. 23.2-43.1)

This invention relates to bulk containers of the drop bottom type and more particularly to a container which includes a bottom pallet door hingedly and detaehably secured thereto.

Containers of the general type herein disclosed are customarily provided with a pivoting door as a bottom closure whereby the bulk material contained in the container may be deposited upon release of an appropriate mechanism. These containers usually have been re stricted to the area of transporting bulk material which may be dumped from the container without fear of causing injury to the material. The material handling techniques heretofore used with such containers ordinarily have consisted of transporting the container to the general location where the material is to be utilized and then releasing the bottom closure so that the bulk material is deposited at this location. The container ordinarily is manipulated by a fork-lifit truck or a small lift crane. In either event, it has been necessary to retain the material in the container until such time as the material is ready for use or, alternatively, until the material may be dumped from the container and deposited in a storage area in its loose aggregate form.

A well-known material handling technique that has been used separate and apart from containers of the general type herein disclosed is the technique of placing goods on .a pallet so that when the goods are needed, the pallet is lifted by a fork truck and manipulated to the place where the material will be consumed.

By utilizing the principles of this invention, it is po sible to combine the desirable features of a bulk container with the material handling technique of palletized material so that it is possible not only to dump material in the manner of the prior bulk containers, but also to store the material on a pallet separate from the container without transferring the material from the container to a pallet.

It is an object of this invent-ion to provide a container that will accommodate a palletized material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a bulk container of the drop bottom type which is adaptable to the pallet concept of material handling.

It is another object of this invention to provide in a bulk container a bottom closure which may be used as a pallet. V

A further object of this invention is to provide in a bulk container a removable bottom closure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bottom closure which is hingedly and detachably secured to the container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bulk container having a side release mechanism for the bottom closure and an additional release mechanism for detachably securing the bottom closure to the container.

Another object of this invention is to be provide a container having a pallet floor detachably secured to the container whereby the container may be detached from the floor without disturbing the material resting on the pallet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container having a bottom pallet floor detachably secured thereto and including means on the container whereby the container may be separated from the floor and secured to another door.

A more complete object of the invention is to provide a container for transporting bulk materials, with said container having a bottom closure in the form of a flat pallet floor which is hingedly secured at one edge to the container, said container further including means which are connected to the hinges and being operable to pivot the hinges to a position whereby the pallet floor is released from the container.

To the accomplishment of the toregoin-g and related ends, said invention then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail one approved means of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means, however, consituting but one of [the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be used.

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the container partially in section.

FIG. 2 is a partialasection view, showing the bottom closure, in the open position, pivoted on the hinges of the container.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the container, partially broken away.

FIG. 4 is a partial top plan view of the container.

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevation, partly in section, similar to FIG. 1 and illustrating the position of the bottom closure when the container is resting on the floor.

FIG. 6 is a partial end elevation, partly in section, illustrating the hinges of the container.

FIG. 7 is an exploded View showing the bottom pallet floor separated from the container.

Turning to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a container, indicated generally by the reference numeral It), which may be used to embody the principles of this invention. The upper portion of the container is gene-rally of standard construction and comprises a pair of side walls 11a, 11b and a pair of end walls 12a, 12b joined at their adjoined edges by corner tangle members 13. Gussets 14 are provided at each upper corner of the container, with each gusset including a lifting hook 15 formed integrally therewith. A central opening is formed in the upper portion of the container and is adapted to be closed by a water-proof closure 16 secured by hinges 17 to the container.

It is believed obvious that other configurations and combination of llifiting hooks and upper closure members may be utilized without departing firom the principles of the invention hereinafter described.

Turning to the lower portion of the container, there is disposed at each corner a corner angle member 2d, the lower end of which includes a flared skirt portion 2i. The corner angle members 20 are substantially co-extensive with the upper corner angle members 13 and in combination define the usual corner angle member found in containers of this type. Secured to the lower edge, by appropriate means such as welds, of each of the side walls 11 are identical panels 22. Each of the panels 22 include an upper edge 23 which is secured to the lower edge of the side wall and an angle portion 24, a main body portion 25, a transverse portion 26, and a terminal portion 27 which is secured to the skirt of the corner angle member 20. The panel 22, by its particular configuration, defines a channel-like member for a purpose hereinafter disclosed. The two panels 22 in conjunction with the two side walls 11a, 1112 complete the side wall construction of the container.

A panel 30, which is similar in configuration to panel 22, is secured to the lower edge of one end wall 12a. However, as is more apparent from an inspection of FIGS. 3 and 5, there is provided centrally of the one end Wall 12a a release mechanism housing, indicated generally by the reference numeral 31. The release mechanism housing includes a sloping section 32 which pro trudes inwardly into the interior of the container and terminates in a depending leg 33.

Mounted in the release mechanism housing is a release mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral 35. This release mechanism and housing are of the same configuration and general design as that which is illustrated in my prior US. Patent No. 2,697,002, issued December 14, 1954. One exception is the position of the housing in the instant application which is exterior of the general confines of the container. The reason for this is that, due to the bulk material normally carried in such containers, there is a problem of the material bridging in the container. To avoid this as much as possible, the container, including the design of the release mechanism housing, has been designed to minimize the protuberances that project into the interior.

The release mechanism comprises a hook-shaped locking member 36 which is pivotally secured in the housing 31 on a shaft 37. The locking member includes spaced apart lugs 38, 39, with the lug 39 serving as a ledge on which rests one edge of the bottom closure member. The locking member 36 is adapted to be rotated around the pivot axis 37 by a pull ring 40 which is accessible from the exterior of the container. Actuation of the pull ring 40 causes the locking member 36 to be pivoted in a known manner, as disclosed in my above-mentioned prior patent, to a position wherein the lug 39 is no longer in a position to support the edge of the closure.

The lower portion of the end wall 12b opposite to the Wall 12a containing the release mechanism includes a lower panel 42 which is similar in configuration to the previously-described panels 22 and 30. The panel 42 further supports a pair of spaced apart hinge housings 43 which protrude into the interior of the container in a manner similar to the release mechanism housing 32.

Completing the container is a bottom closure member 45 which is in the form of a pallet. The bottom closure member 45 includes a flat surface member 46 with appropriate reinforcing means 47 spaced along the extent thereof. The forward edge of the bottom closure member 45 includes a portion-48 which is adapted to be received between the spaced lugs 38, 39 on the pivotal hook member 36, as shown in FIG. 5. Extending the longitudinal length of the bottom closure 45 are a pair of spaced apart channel members 50 which are adapted to be received on the tines of a fork lift truck thereby permitting the manipulation of the entire container or of the separate pallet bottom closure. The rearward end of the bottom closure 45 includes a pair of spaced apart support members 51, each of which is secured to the channels 50. Each of the support members 51 includes a pair of plates 52, 53 which serve to mount a hinge pin 54. As may be best seen in FIG. 6, the pin 54 extends beyond the plate 53 to a greater degree than the opposite end of the pin extends beyond the plate 52.

Adapted to cooperate with the pins 54- are a pair of hinges 60. Each of the hinges 60 is secured 'by pins 61 to a shaft 62 which is rotatably mounted at either end thereof in appropriate apertures in the hinge housing walls 43a and the side panels 22. The shaft 62 is supported for rotation in the apertures by bearings 63. As may best be viewed in FIG. 2, each of the hinges 60 includes a hook portion 65 which is adapted to receive the pin 54. The hook portion 65 includes an inwardly tapered lip 66 and a tapered camming surface 67 at the forward edge thereof. It is to be noted that the recess 68 in the hinge 60 which defines the hook is elongated in a Vertical direction for a purpose hereinafter described.

The shaft 62 and the hinges 60 secured therewith are adapted to be rotated by a crank 69 which is secured at least at one end of the shaft 62. The arrangement in FIG. 6 illustrates a crank secured to either end of the shaft 62; however, under certain conditions, it may be satisfactory to utilize only one operating crank. The crank 69 is secured at one-end to an operating arm 70 which is disposed within the confines of the channel formed by the side panel 22. The operating arm 70 terminates adjacent to a pivot plate 71 which is secured to the lower edge of the side panel 22. The arm 70 is secured to an intermediate link 72 which is pivotally connected at 73 to a manual operating lever 74. The intermediate link 72 has a configuration which is generally U-shaped and includes a recess 75. The operating lever 74- is pivoted at 76 to the pivot plate 71.

It may be seen that, upon rotation of the lever 74 from the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5, in a clockwise direction around the pivot 76, the arm 70 is displaced in a direction causing the crank 69 and the shaft 62 to be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5. Inasmuch as the hinges 60 are secured to the pivot shaft 62, the hinges, likewise, are moved counterclockwise. The counterclockwise movement of the hinges is restrained by the abutment of the lever 74 with the end 70a of the arm 70 with the abutment occurring at the position where the hinges 60 and recess 68 are generally vertically disposed. The hinges 6t and the operating mechanism for rotating the same are maintained in the full line position shown in FIG. 5 by virtue of coil springs 78 which encircle the shaft 62. One end of the coil spring is pinned to the shaft 62 at 79 with the other end of the coil being secured at 80 to the wall 43a of the hinge housing. The coils are wound such that they tend to rotate the shaft 62 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, thereby maintaining the hinges in a vertical position.

When the lever 74 is rotated around the pivot 76 in a counterclockwise direction, the crank 69 and shaft 62 are rotated in a clockwise direction thereby rotating the shaft 62 in a direction against the bias of the springs 78. The hinges 66 are thereby rotated to a position which is at an angle relative to the vertical. The hinges may be maintained in this position against the bias of the spring 78 due to the lever 74 being rotated to a position wherein the pivot 76 is received in the recess 75 of the intermediate link 72. With the pivot 76 being received in the recess 75, the lever '74 is in horizontal alignment with the arm 70 so that the tendency of the springs 78 to rotate the crank 69 merely transmits a force which is along the arm 70 and which is restrained by the pivot 76.

Serving to aid in the restraint of the pivoting movement of the shaft 62 when the bottom closure is supported on the hinges as well as serving a guiding and locating function is a guide plate 86 which is secured to the wall 43a. The guide plate 80 includes a slotted recess 81 which is contiguous and coextensive with the recess 68 in the hook portion of the hinges 60. A similar slotted recess is formed in the walls 43a so that the projecting end of the pins 54 may be received in the combined slots thereby restraining the sliding movement of the bottom closure member 45 relative to the container. The lower edge of the slots in the walls 43a and the plates 86 include camming surfaces 84 on either leg thereof and aid in guiding the pins into the slots.

The operation of the above-described container is as follows:

With the bottom closure and the container as illustrated in FIG. 5, and assuming the container to be resting on the floor, it is to be noted that the edge 48 of the bottom closure is between the lugs 38 and 39 of the hook member 36. The opposite end of the closure member carrying the pins 54 has the ends of the pins in the slots in the walls 43a and the guide plates 80. As it is noted in FIG. 5, the hinges are in their normally vertical position with the pins 54 being spaced from the hook portion 65 of the hinges 60. This position of the pins 54 is due to the container resting on the floor which forces the bottom closure vertically relative to the container. In the event that the container is lifted, the edge 48 of the closure would rest on the lug 39 of the hook member 36 and the pins 54 would move downwardly in the slots until they engage the hook portion 65 of the hinges 60.

Assuming the container is lifted by appropriate means, the operator may actuate the release mechanism 35 by pulling the pull ring 40 whereupon the locking member 36 would be pivoted to a position spaced from the edge 48 of the bottom closure and permitting the closure to pivot on the pins 54 to a position illustrated in FIG. 2.

Assuming that the container remains placed on the floor and assuming that there is a material stacked on the bottom closure, if it is desired to remove the container but leave the material stored on the bottom closure member, the operator would pivot the lever 74 to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5 which would cause the hinges at to be pivoted to the dotted line position shown. It is to be noted that, inasmuch as the pins 54 are displaced upwardly in the recesses 68 in the hinges 60 when the container is resting on the floor, the pins 54- do not interfere with the pivoting movement of the hinges 60. With the handle 74 rotated to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5 and upon actuation of the pull ring 49, both ends of the bottom closure would be released from the container and the container may be lifted away from the bottom member, leaving the material formerly in the container undisturbed on the bottom closure member. With the container removed, the bottom closure becomes a pallet for further handling of the material when it is so desired.

Obviously, in order to re-use the container, it is necessary to re-attach the bottom closure member. To accomplish this purpose, the operator merely releases the pull ring thereby permitting the spring associated with the locking member to return the locking member back to a latching position. Also, the operator would return the lever 74 to the full line position shown in FIG. 5. With the locking member and hinges returned to their initial position, the container may be lifted and positioned over an empty bottom closure member. As the container is lowered onto the closure, the skirt portions 21 of the corner angles 2t) serve to orient the closure relative to the container. The forward end 48 of the bottom closure is adapted to engage with the lower tapered surface of the lug 39 of the latching member 36 and thereby cause the member 36 to rotate about its axis 27 against the bias of the spring. As the edge 48 clears the lug 39, the member 36 will snap back into position thereby latching the edge 48 between the lugs 38, 39. A corresponding action would occur between the pins 54 and hinges 6t). Thus, due to the co-action of the end of the pins 54 with the camming surface 84- on the plates 8d, the pins 54- are guided into the slots till. As the pins progress into the slots 81, they engage the tapered surface 67 on each of the hinges 6t) and cause the hinges at to pivot against the bias of the springs 78. After the pins 54 have progressed up the slots to a height which clears the lip portion 66 of the hinges 60, the hinges 60 snap back into a vertical position under the bias of the spring 78 thereby locking the bottom closure to the container.

It is believed apparent that the invention above-described fully accomplishes the objects set forth. Thus, the container of the instant invention is capable of being used as a drop bottom container as well as being capable of being used as a container for shipping palletized material. The detachable bottom closure described iseasily removed and may be replaced very simply. A typical use to which a container embodying the principles of the invention might be put is the shipping of material such as stacked coils of wire which would be placed in the container and transported by appropriate means to the desired destination. Upon reaching the destination, the bottom closure might be detached from the container in the manner hereinabove described, thus leaving the coils of wire stacked on the bottom closure whereby they may be conveniently transferred by a fork lift truck. The empty container then may be secured to another bottom closure and filled with scrap mate-rial for transportation back to the initial point. Upon reaching the original point of de'barkation, the scrap material may be deposited by using the container as a drop bottom container.

For ease of description, the principles of the invention have been set forth in connection with but a single illustrated embodiment. It is not my intention that the illustrated embodiment or the terminology employed in describing it be limiting inasmuch as variations of these may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, but rather, it is my desire to be restricted only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A transportation container including;

walls defining a chamber with a discharge opening at the bottom thereof;

a flat closure member adapted to close the discharge opening;

a manually releasable lock member pivotally secured to said container and adapted to engage releasably one edge of said flat closure member thereby to secure said one edge of said member to said container;

hook means pivotally secured on a wall of said container opposite to said releasable lock member;

pin members secured to said flat closure member at an edge opposite to said one edge of said closure member and being adapted to be engaged with said pivotal hook means thereby to mount pivotally said closure member on said container; and

manual means mounted on said container and being operatively associated with said pivotal hook means whereby said hook means may be pivoted to a position disengaged from said pin members.

2. The combination of claim 1 further including;

a shaft pivotally mounted on said container;

said hook means being secured to said shaft; and

biasing means associated with said shaft and biasing said shaft to a position wherein said hook means are operable to be in engagement with said] pin members.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the walls of said container include a flared skirt portion at the lower edge thereof thereby to facilitate the positioning of said flat closure member in position to close the discharge opening.

4. The combination of claim 1 further including;

guide plates secured to said container adjacent to said hook means;

said guide plates including a slot therein adapted to receive one end of said pin members.

5. The combination of claim 4- wherein said guide plates further include camming portions adjacent the lower edge of said slot and being operable to guide said pins into said slot.

6. A container for transporting materials comprising:

side and end walls defining a chamber therein;

a bottom closure member;

hinge means supporting said closure member on said container whereby said closure member is pivotable between a first position closing the bottom of the chamber and a second position wherein the bottom of the chamber is open; and

manually operable means operatively connected to said hinge means whereby said hinge means may be rendered inoperative as a support for said closure memher.

7. A container for transporting materials comprising;

side and end walls defining a chamber with a bottom opening therein adapted to receive materials to be transported;

ized materials including;

walls defining a chamber with a discharge opening at the bottom thereof;

a closure member adapted to close the discharge openfirst means releasably securing one portion of said member to a wall of said container;

second means hingedly and releasably securing another portion of said member to another wall of said container;

first manual means on said container operatively connected to said first releasable means for releasing said one portion of said member whereby said closure member may pivot on said second means and discharge a bulk material through the discharge opening; and

second manual means on said container operatively connected to said second releasable means and being operable to release said other portion of said member from said hinged securement whereby said closure member may be detached from said container with a palletized material remaining on the closure memher.

9. A transportation container including;

walls defining a chamber with a discharge opening at the bottom thereof;

a flat closure member adapted to close the discharge opening;

a manually releasable lock member pivotally secured to said container and adapted to engage releasably one edge of said flat closure member thereby to secure said one edge of said member to said container;

hook means pivotally secured to a wall of said container opposite to said releasable lock member;

pin members secured to said flat closure member at an edge opposite to said one edge of said closure member and being adapted to be engaged with said pivotal hook means thereby to mount pivotally said closure member on said container;

guide plates secured to said container adjacent to said hook means;

said guide plates including a slot therein adapted to receive one end of said pin members;

the upper portion of the slot in said guide plates extending above said hook means;

manual means mounted on said container and being operatively associated with said hook means whereby said hook means may be pivoted to a position disengaged from said pin members when said pin members-are disposed in the upper portion of said guide slot.

11). A container for transporting materials comprising;

walls defining a chamber having a top opening and a discharge opening at the bottom thereof;

a flat bottom closure member;

means securing said closure member to said container;

said securing means including hinges pivotally carried by one of said walls and further including pins mounted on said closure member;

said hinges having a hook portion adapted to receive said pins thereby to mount said closure member on the container;

biasing means operatively associated with said hinges to bias said hinges to a position adapted to support said closure member by said pins;

cam means on said hinges adjacent to said hook portion;

guide means on a wall of the container adjacent to said hinges;

said pins being adapted to cooperate with said guide means and said cam means when said closure member is being secured to the container whereby said hinges are pivoted against the bias of said biasing means until said pins have reached a position to be supported by said hook portion; and

manual means on said container operatively associated with said securing means and being operable to detach said closure member from said container.

11. A container for transporting materials comprising;

Walls defining a chamber having a top opening and a discharge opening at the bottom thereof;

a fiat bottom closure member;

means securing said closure member to said container;

manual means on said container operatively associated with said securing means and being operable to release said securing means from engagement with said closure member thereby'to detach said closure member from the container;

means associated with said securing means operable to secure automatically said closure member to said container when said container is lowered onto said closure member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Cover Hinge (Schlegel), published by Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 5, No. 8, page 20 (January 1963).

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. R. B. FARLEY, Assistant Examiner. 

11. A CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORTING MATERIALS COMPRISING; WALLS DEFINING A CHAMBER HAVING A TOP OPENING AND DISCHARGE OPENING AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF; A FLAT BOTTOM CLOSURE MEMBER; MEANS SECURING SAID CLOSURE MEMBER TO SAID CONTAINER; MANUAL MEANS ON SAID CONTAINER OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SECURING MEANS AND BEING OPERABLE TO RELEASE SAID SECURING MEANS FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CLOSURE MEMBER THERBY TO DETACH SAID CLOSURE MEMBER FROM THE CONTAINER; MEANS ASSOCIATEED WITH SAID SECURING MEANS OPERABLE TO SECURE AUTOMATICALLY SAID CLOSURE MEMBER TO SAID CONTAINER WHEN SAID CONTAINER IS LOWERED ONTO SAID CLOSURE MEMBER. 